Protect Property Rights

Tens of thousands of new oil, gas and coalbed methane wells have been drilled across the West, and many more planned. This energy development includes pipelines, roads, compression stations, transmission lines, wastewater ponds, and well pads.

Much of this development occurs on "split estate land", where the landowner does not own the rights to the minerals beneath their land. The mineral owner has the right to develop the minerals and the landowner has limited ability to protect their private property. Too often, irresponsible oil and gas companies have polluted land and water, destroyed hay meadows, spread noxious weeds, disturbed farm or ranch operations, and devalued property.

Take Action

On July 14, 2010, the House Natural Resources Committee will vote on H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act. Representative Martin Heinrich of New Mexico will offer an amendment that will protect private landowners and ensure that they are fairly compensated for damages to their property.

These protections would:

• Ensure landowners are notified before the minerals beneath their land were leased;
• Require a surface use agreements or bond; and
• Ensure that landowners are compensated for lost agricultural production and income, lost land value, lost use of and lost access to the land, and lost value of improvements.

Call these representatives on the committee today and urge them to support Rep. Heinrich’s amendment to protect split estate landowners.
You can call the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121, and ask for the representative’s office and the operator will connect you.

• Nick J. Rahall, II, West Virginian, Chairman
• Doc Hastings, Washington, Ranking Republican Member

Democrats

• Dale E. Kildee, Michigan
• Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, American Samoa
• Frank Pallone, Jr., New Jersey
• Grace F. Napolitano, California
• Rush D. Holt, New Jersey
• Raúl M. Grijalva, Arizona
• Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Guam
• Jim Costa, California
• Dan Boren, Oklahoma
• Gregorio "Kilili" Sablan, Mariana Islands
• Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
• Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
• George Miller, California
• Edward J. Markey, Massachusetts
• Peter A. DeFazio, Oregon
• Maurice D. Hinchey, New York
• Donna M. Christensen, Virgin Islands
• Diana DeGette, Colorado
• Ron Kind, Wisconsin
• Lois Capps, California
• Jay Inslee, Washington
• Joe Baca, California
• Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, South Dakota
• John P. Sarbanes, Maryland
• Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire
• Niki Tsongas, Massachusetts
• Frank Kratovil, Jr., Maryland
• Pedro R. Pierluisi, Puerto Rico

Republicans

• Don Young, Alaska
• Elton Gallegly, California
• John J. Duncan, Jr., Tennessee
• Jeff Flake, Arizona
• Henry E. Brown, Jr., South Carolina
• Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington
• Louie Gohmert, Texas
• Rob Bishop, Utah
• Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania
• Doug Lamborn, Colorado
• Adrian Smith, Nebraska
• Robert J. Wittman, Virginia
• Paul C. Broun, Georgia
• John Fleming, Louisiana
• Mike Coffman, Colorado
• Jason Chaffetz, Utah
• Cynthia M. Lummis, Wyoming
• Tom McClintock, California
• Bill Cassidy, Louisiana

Read fact sheet on Rep. Heinrich’s amendment
Read fact sheet on CLEAR Act

Strong support in Colorado’s Western Slope and Montana for property rights of surface owners

Surveys conducted for WORC found overwhelming support among voters in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and Montana for a federal measure strengthening protections for private property owners facing of oil and gas drilling on their land.

More than eight-out-of-ten voters surveyed favor an amendment in Congress that would strengthen protections for private property owners.

Read Colorado 3rd Congressional District survey key findings
Read Colorado 3rd Congressional District survey press results

Read Montana voter survey key findings
Read Montana voter survey press results
Read Billings Gazette article